Until fairly recently, most cars had manual transmissions. But in recent years, technology has advanced to the point that a wealth of different transmission options are now available for anyone who wants them.
One slightly confusing thing about these many options is that they all tend to be referred to by several different names which can make it hard to figure out which ones are right for you.
But none of us wants to get stuck with a car or a transmission which isn’t ideal or doesn’t suit our taste so we’ve put together this detailed page on what each type of transmission has to offer – and how they differ from one another so there isn’t any confusion.
What is Gearbox?
It’s no secret that without a car’s gearbox the engine will run at a higher rpms for a much longer time, thus reducing the overall life of the engine, increasing fuel consumption and the amount of maintenance cost.
And although you can technically speed up as long as you like with just shifting through gears you’ll need to master your car’s handling as well as let the engine rest.
Different gears give your mechanical advantage on being able to go faster while not increasing engine rpm; this keeps your car from overworking and staying healthy!
Types of Transmission:
If you’re thinking of purchasing a vehicle soon, it’s important to remember that there are different transmission options in terms of how your vehicle is powered. Each option has its pros and cons depending on your unique circumstances.
Manual Transmission
The manual transmission is a car’s cogwheel mechanism that uses a driver-operated clutch to control the flow of power from the engine to the transmission. The clutch is used to engage and disengage various gears within the gearbox, so drivers don’t have to change gears strictly by using their feet.
Manual transmissions often require less maintenance than automatic transmissions with fewer parts in operation at any given time. There are also no electronic sensors involved and no hydraulics controlling things under the hood.
iMT Transmission
The iMT transmission is a total game-changer as far as manual transmission cars are concerned. This wonderful innovation by Hyundai offers users the benefit of a manual transmission car without requiring them to do any sort of shifting whatsoever.
All you have to do is steer and shift gears using the standard H-pattern given on your gear shifter and the gearbox does everything else for you in the background! The actuator will engage or disengage the clutch whenever required.
The extremely surprising aspect of this technology is its seamless integration into already existing vehicles from both Hyundai and Kia Motors like you could never even tell that there was no clutch pedal present in these cars from outer appearances at all! If not for us telling with complete assurance that these cars had no clutch pedals we wouldn’t even be able to discern this fact ourselves!
AMT Transmission
Automakers make use of an automated manual transmission that can sense which gear to engage quite successfully! This type of transmission typically contains 2 actuators. The major advantage lies in the fact that it is a manual transmission as well as being automatic. It usually costs Rs. 50,000-70,000 more than a standard manual transmission.
In terms of its functionality, this automatic transmission is a manual when viewed from the inside of the car. However, you generally do not receive a Park feature on such vehicles.
The primary difference in these cars compared to normal automatic vehicles has to do with smoother shifts and overall performance is better at avoiding jerky motions.
DCT Transmission
Dual-clutch transmission (DCT) systems have been around since the early 20th century, but recently, they were reintroduced to the automotive world.
DCT’s come in different variations, but they typically use two control devices instead of just one like manual and automatic transmissions. This adds more control for the driver by making it easier to shift gears rapidly and also gives them complete control over when they’d like to shift gears.
It has a dual-clutch system that operates much like CVT, but it’s faster and smoother. One clutch controls 1, 3, 5, 7 (the higher gears), and the other controls 2, 4, 6 (the lower gears). This allows for lightning-fast gear shifts.
Race cars use this option because it comes down to being good fuel efficiency. You gain a lot from owning one of these nifty transmissions!
CVT Transmission
Alternatives to the conventional automatic and manual transmission are continuously coming on the market, such as the CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) found in Honda City models.
This new transmission option for vehicles is great because it has more of a steady, smooth driving motion and lessens the jerky motions that you sometimes get with other types of transmissions.
CVTs also deliver better gas mileage than standard automatic or manual transmissions, which can help you save money at the pump. As it contains only one moving part (a chain) versus many more moving parts inside an automatic or manual transmission, you’re also going to experience fewer problems with things like internal wear and tear or more frequent replacement.
On top of all this, they just drive a lot smoother and are better than your typical speedier options!
Verdict
If you care about price, the manual is best. It’s universally agile, greatly attached to a series of engines. The automatic has no transmission issues but is expensive in terms of maintenance and fluid changes.
If you’re taking lots of trips under 40 miles or if you need performance with the convenience of auto, then stick with the DCT (dual-clutch transmission). iMT (intelligent manual transmission) is also becoming more popular for those who can’t decide whether they want to shift for themselves or take a backseat while a computer does all the work.
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